KIDS THAT LOVE PIANO LESSONS!

  Monday, June 1, 2020 by Catherine Williams | Uncategorized

It’s hard to believe all that we have done in the past year as part of my piano studio. This year has been a wild one, with me giving birth to my second son in February, and with the Covid-19 pandemic, and lock down restrictions it presented. At one point, I was ONLY doing online lessons with the students, and they still excelled! Please read the synopsis below of everything we accomplished this year as a studio! I consider it a blessing that the students have still grown, and continued to demonstrate success despite the circumstances. We are blessed to be able to continue forth with this education. 

                                                                                                The United States International Duo Piano Competition, January 2020, Miss Cat-8 months pregnant!

It's been an amazing year! Here is a summary of what we did:

• Achievement Day - Super Achievers earned a medal at the end of all their accomplishments.
• Halloween Recital - everyone dressed up in their costume!
• Holiday Recital at Tagawa Gardens.
• For the first time, six students participated in the United States International Duo Piano Competition, held at the Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs! (See photo below!)
• Four Forms Festival - students learned and performed an entire Sonatina. I had two winners this year!
• Performance Awards were given to students who performed a substantial amount.
• National Guild Auditions - 2 National entries, and 2 District entries.
• Kits testing - High scores made the National Theory Honor Roll. 
• Demta Festival - with Hayden Keller receiving the top score of 1+, and three other students receiving the score of a 1!

                                                                                                                                                                                                               The United States International Duo Piano Competition, January 2020 

I think it's helpful for you to know what I've been doing as a teacher to continue increase my own knowledge, enhance the teaching of your children, contribute to the community, and add more value to your investment, so I wanted to list what new activities have been going on in the last year that have directly contributed to your child’s musical education:

• I am a member of 4 Music Teacher Associations locally, and Nationally. Monthly meetings include enrichment programs for the teachers.
• I attended multiple seminars that taught me how to make lessons more exciting and enjoyable for students.
• I participate actively in online teaching support groups and get ideas from these generous and creative teachers every day.

                                                                       Tagawa Gardens recital. I dressed my family up for the recital! Others dressed festively as well. December, 2019.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019 by Catherine Williams | Uncategorized

It’s hard to believe all that we have done in the past year as part of my piano studio. It’s been one year since I put out my last official newsletter, but we’ve been so busy in the last year that I wanted to make sure you knew about all the things the students and I were doing behind the scenes to make this the best year in piano yet!

It's been an amazing year! Here is a summary of what we did:

• Achievement Day - Super Achievers earned a medal at the end of all their accomplishments.
• Ana Oldham had the opportunity to perform The Banshee in the Master Class at AMTA's Achievement Day with Dr. Jooen Pak. (Fall, 2017)
• Halloween Recital - everyone dressed up in their costume!
• Holiday Recital at Tagawa Gardens.
• Movie-themed Recital - Music from Star Wars, Frozen,The Wizard of Oz, and much more. 
• Four Forms Festival - students learn and perform an entire Sonatina. Eliza Monson was a winner, and Elaine Sudibyo was an Honorable Mention.
• Ammon Russell and Mindy Yang performed in the Achievement Day master class held at Metropolitan State University. (February 2018)
• Performance at Morning Star Senior Living Center
• Performance at Chick fil-A
• Performance Awards were given to students who performed a substantial amount.
• National Guild Auditions - 7 winners.
• Kits testing - High scores made the National Theory Honor Roll.
• Demta Festival - with 2 winners, and 5 Honorable Mentions
• Potluck recitals - for adult students.
• Students received the CLEF award - for participating in the DEMTA Festival for 3 years and 5 years.

Mindy Yang- Master Class at Metropolitan State University 2018

I think it's helpful for you to know what I've been doing as a teacher to continue increase my own knowledge, enhance the teaching of your children, contribute to the community, and add more value to your investment, so I wanted to list what new activities have been going on in the last year that have directly contributed to your child’s musical education:

• I am a member of 4 Music Teacher Associations locally, and Nationally. Monthly meetings include enrichment programs for the teachers.
• I attended multiple seminars that taught me how to make lessons more exciting and enjoyable for students.
• Attained my Collegiate Certificate from The American Guild of Organists. (The equivalent of a Bachelor's degree in organ performance.)
• I participate actively in online teaching support groups and get ideas from these generous and creative teachers every day.
• Served as the Recital coordinator for DEMTA concerts.

Evan Costinas with his Guild award, 2019.

Friday, June 2, 2017 by Catherine Williams | Uncategorized

It’s hard to believe all that we have done in the past year as part of my piano studio. It’s been one year since I put out my last official newsletter, but we’ve been so busy in the last year that I wanted to make sure you knew about all the things the students and I were doing behind the scenes to make this the best year in piano yet!

Photo: Kiandra Phelps and Peter Friesen- Achievement Day Master Class 2017

So, I hope you’ll take a minute and read about all that we’ve accomplished in the last year and even a few things that you might see in the year ahead.

I look forward to another great year of music learning and music making!

It's been an amazing year! Here is a summary of what we did:

• Achievement Day
• Kiandra Phelps was selected to participate in the Achievement Day Master Class conducted by Peter Friesen MM.
• Halloween Recital, where everyone dressed up in their costume!
• Holiday Recital at Tagawa Gardens.
• Composition Festival, where students performed their own compositions in a Senior home.
• Movie-themed Recital. Music from Star Wars, Frozen,The Wizard of Oz, and much more. 
• Performance at Parker Adventist Hospital
• Four Forms Festival, where students learn and perform an entire Sonatina.
• Performance at Morning Star Senior Living Center
• Performance at Chick fil-A
• Performance Awards were given to students who performed a substantial amount.
• National Guild Auditions.19 winners!
• Kits testing, High scores made the National Theory Honor Roll.
• Demta Festival, with 7 winners, and 7 Honorable Mentions
• Addition of lessons via Skype to keep missed lessons to a minimum
• Pot lucks, for adult students.
• Students received the CLEF award, for participating in the DEMTA Festival for 3 years and maintaining a Superior rating.
• Addition of new, fun apps to help with scales, ear training, sight reading, and theory.

Photo: Zander Loves learning theory!

I know that it's helpful for you to know what I've been doing as a teacher that is continuing my own learning, enhancing the teaching of your children, contributing to the community, and adding more value to your investment. So, I wanted to list what new activities have been going on in the last year that have directly contributed to your child’s musical education:

• I am a member of 5+ Music Teacher Associations locally, and Nationally. Monthly meetings include enrichment programs for the teachers.
• I attended multiple seminars that taught me how to make lessons more exciting and enjoyable for students.
• Attended consultations about incorporating new learning techniques that students will thrive on.
• Attained my Service Playing Certificate from The American Guild of Organists.
• I participate actively in online teaching support groups and get ideas from these generous and creative teachers every day.
• Listened to podcasts from piano teachers all over the world.